sermon!
14 September 2008
♥ 11:16
for the benefit of those who werent at service yesterday!
Handling Tests in Life
- [Job 5:7] Yet man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upwards.
- As sparks will ALWAYS fly upwards, this verse tells us that there will ALWAYS be problems
in our lives. a sad but unavoidable truth isnt it?):
- But instead of avoiding them, we need to have a right understanding of why problems exist!
- Yes, we go through tests such as exams since we're students right now. but the truth is, no
matter at which life station & at what age, we'll always be students of life!
[James 1:2-6]
2Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.
1. Refocus on the goal (v2-4)
- v2 says "consider it pure joy.. whenever you face trials of many kinds"
- is the Bible being sadistic right here? like asking us to rejoice when im sick, to celebrate when
we have lots of hw! NOT THIS WAY!
- we need to understand that the goal of the test is not just to pass the test but to build our
character
- If you get all all As yet its because you cheated, even if you have passed in the eyes of MOE or
the world, you've failed big time in God's eyes
- why did God put so many problems in our lives? so that we wont become like spoilt brats!
- without tests, there will be no promotion cos we wouldnt have any idea if we've passed the
module
- for instance, how can we tell if we've grown in patience? we gotta face impatient situations then
from there can we see our response & tell our growth
- think about how athletes can train, put in so much energy, restrict their diet & all.. i dont think
they enjoy all these activities by itself. it's prob very dreadful & painful. but why do they still
do it? because they have an end goal in mind!
- the hard work thus becomes purposeful!
- [1 Cor 9:26] Therefore i do not run like a man running aimlessly; i do not fight like a man
beating the air.
- thats what we're doing if we dont have an end goal in mind. we're probably just wasting our
energy, investing in nothing at all
- rmb why we're studying! dont just study for the sake of studying! or to follow the crowd to get
perfect score or what. but its truly for God! not grades, but my life, for Jesus, for all to
see!
- also rmb why we're going through problems! its so that we can grow in our character, to be
more & more like Jesus, & thus ready to meet Him at the end of our lives!
2. Request for God's wisdom (v5-6)
- v5 says that "if anyone of you lacks wisdom".. he should PANIC? he should burn his textbooks
& drink them down? NO! the Bible says that "if anyone of you lacks wisdom, he should ASK
GOD!"
- sometimes we may feel unworthy to ask God for wisdom because we know that it's our fault..
it's our fault that we din work hard enough..
- but know the GOD you're serving! our God is a God of second chances, a God who is generous
& non-judgemental!
- why do people get stressed?
- because we feel that we lose control!
- even if we've studied everything, theres still many things you dont know about!
- we gotta let God do the rest!
- [Proverbs 4:7] Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get
understanding.
- we cant just study hard, we gotta study smart!
- when we serve God during exams period.. forsaking studying time to go for service, CGs & all..
in the eyes of the world, we lose out! we lost out big time!
- but as children of God, we gotta be secure & know that our God can help us!:D:D:D
- [Colossians 2:2-3] 2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so
that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the
mystery of God, namely, Christ, 3in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom
and knowledge.
- Christ is the SOURCE of knowledge & wisdom!
- need wisdom? dont just go to your textbooks, your tutors.. first GO to the wisest person & that
is God!
- know that He is always always in control.(:
- [Philippians 4:13] i can do everything through him who gives me strength.
- [Colossians 1:29] To this end i labour, struggling with all his energy, which so powerfully
works in me.
- with Christ, we can STRUGGLE POWERFULLY!
jiayous everyone with prelims & promos!:D face them with God!
Labels: teachings
